Groupwork!

It is week 9! Having my first group presentation soon! Our topic is on intercultural awareness. Although it is just a five minutes presentation, all memebers in my group were actively finding information about the topic, even more than we need! It was really interesting and fun when finding out how different nationalities behaves so differently. During the group meeting, we kept on saying"Oh!" "Seriously?" "Is that true?". Our ways of shaking hands, greetings, gestures, table manners, perceptions, ways of viewing time and so on can be an extreme situation to another culture. I have found something quite interesting which is about crossing legs. In America, it is likely for americans to sit back in the chair and cross their legs while for some countries in the Middle East, one of the most insulting things you can do is sit with your legs crossed so the bottom of your foot is pointed in the other person's direction. The foot is the dirtiest part of the body and the sole of the shoe is the dirtiest of the low. Therefore, for them, showing someone the bottom of your foot means you are looking for a fight!

Let me say something about my country as well. In Hong Kong or China, we have to hold our chopsticks in a proper way when having a meal (the largest and middle one below). I was always told to hold it properly even I don't feel comfortable with because holding in some ways may indicates some non-verbal foul languages and it is definitely impolite to do so!